1914-15 Star
The 1914-15 star was approved in 1918, for issue to Officers and men of British and Imperial forces who served in any theatre of the war, between the 5th August 1914 and December 1915.
Clasps: None
Note: Recipients of this medal also received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
British War Medal
The medal was approved in 1919, for issue to Officers and Men of British and Imperial Forces who had served between the 5th August 1914 and the 11th November 1918.
Officers and Men of the Royal Navy (including Reserves) were required to have completed 28 days mobilised service. The medal was automatically awarded in the event of death whilst on active service
Clasps: None
Note: Issue of this medal was later extended to cover the period 1919-1920 and service in Mine Clearing at sea, as well as service on operations in North and South Russia, the Eastern Baltic, Siberia, the Black Sea and the Caspian.
Victory Medal
This medal was issued to all of those who received the 1914-15 star, and most of those who were awarded the British War Medal. It was never awarded on its own.
To qualify for the Victory Medal, you had to be in active service and in a theatre of war between the 5th August 1914 and the 11th November 1918.
Clasps: None
Note: This medal was also issued to members of the British Naval Mission to Russia during 1919-1920 and for Mine Clearing work in the North Sea, between the 11th November 1918 and the 30th November 1919.
Mercantile Marine War Medal
This medal was awarded by The Board of Trade to members of the Merchant Navy for one or more voyages through a war or danger zone, between 1914 and 1918.
Clasps: None
War Medal 1939 – 1945
The War Medal was awarded to those who served in the Armed Forces and Merchant Navy, full time for at least 28 days between the 3rd September 1939 and the 2nd September 1945. In the case of Merchant Seamen the 28 days must have been served at sea.
Clasps: None, but see note.
Note: For those who were “Mentioned in Despatches” a single bronze ‘Oak Leaf’ was worn in place of a clasp. And for those awarded a “King’s Commendation for Brave Conduct”, a silver ‘Oak Leaf’’ was worn in place of a clasp.
1939-1945 Star
The 1939-45 star was awarded for service in World War 2. The medal was awarded for operational service between the 3rd September 1939 and the 2nd September 1945.
Naval personnel qualified if they completed six months service, and at least one voyage was made through an operational area.
Clasps: None to Naval personnel.
Note: The 1939-45 star was immediately awarded in the event of death on active service, disability or wounding. Anyone who was awarded a “Mention in Despatches”, also received an immediate award.
Italy Star
The Italy Star was awarded for operational service in Italy, Greece, Yugoslavia, Pantelleria, the Aegean area and the Dodecanese Islands, between the 11th June 1943 and the 8th May 1945.
Clasps: None
Note: Royal Navy and Merchant Navy personnel were awarded this medal for service in the Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea, and for operations in and around the Dodecanese Islands, Corsica, Greece, Sardinia and Yugoslavia after the 11th June 1943.
The six months service needed for the 1939-45 Star had to be earned, before service could count for the Italy Star.
France and Germany Star
The France and Germany Star was awarded for service in France, Belgium, Luxemburg, The Netherlands and Germany from the 6th June 1944 (D Day), to the 8th May 1945. The qualifying sea area is the North Sea, south of a line from the Firth of Forth to Kristiansand in the English Channel, and in the bay of Biscay east of Longitude 6 degrees West, provided that service was in direct support of land operations in France, Belgium, The Netherlands or Germany.
Clasps: ATLANTIC – awarded to those who became eligible for the Atlantic Star.
Note: When the ribbon is worn alone, a silver rosette denotes the clasp.
Atlantic Star
The Atlantic Star was awarded for six months service afloat, in the Atlantic or Home Waters, between the 3rd September 1939 and the 8th May 1945.
The qualifying service for the 1939-45 Star must have been earned before service for the Atlantic Star could be considered. Merchant Seamen qualified for this medal as long as they had served in the Atlantic, Home Waters or North Russia Convoys or South Atlantic Waters.
Clasps: FRANCE and GERMANY, was awarded to those who subsequently became entitled to the France and Germany Star.
Note: It should be noted that the Atlantic Star was not issued to recipients of the France and Germany Star.
Africa Star
The Africa Star was awarded for a minimum of one days service in an operational area of North Africa, between the 10th June 1940 and the 12th May 1943.
The operational area was the whole of the area between the Suez Canal and the Straits of Gibraltar, together with Malta, Abyssinia, Kenya, Sudan, The Somali Islands and Eritrea. Those areas not bordering the Mediterranean only qualified for the Africa Star between the 10th June 1940 to the 27th November 1941.
Clasps: NORTH AFRICA 1942-43 Awarded for service with the Royal Navy or Merchant Navy from the 23rd October 1942 to the 12th May 1943. A silver rosette on the ribbon denotes this clasp.
Pacific Star
The Pacific Star was awarded for operational service in the Pacific theatre between the 8th December 1941 and the 2nd September 1945, and also for certain specified service in China, Hong Kong, Malaya and Sumatra.
Hong Kong between the 8th December 1941 to the 25th December 1941.
China and Malaya between the 8th December 1941 and the 15th February 1942.
Sumatra between the 8th December 1941 and the 23rd March 1942.
The qualifying sea area for award of the Pacific Star, are the Pacific Ocean (including the South China Sea), the Indian Ocean east of a line running due South from Singapore, round the South East coast of Sumatra, through Christmas Island and Southwards along the line of 110 degrees East.
The medal was awarded immediately to anyone killed or wounded in action.
Clasps: BURMA awarded to those who also qualified for the Burma Star.
Note: When the ribbon was worn alone, a silver rosette is worn to denote the award of the clasp.
Burma Star
The Burma Star was awarded for service in the Burma campaign between the 11th December 1941 and he 2nd September 1945. This medal was also awarded for certain specified service in China, Hong Kong, Malaya and Sumatra.
Hong Kong between the 26th December 1941 and the 2nd December 1945
China and Malaya between the 26th February 1942 and the 2nd September 1945
Sumatra between the 24th March 1942 and the 2nd September 1945.
Service in China, Hong Kong, Malaya and Sumatra after the 8th December 1941, but before the above start dates was recognised by the award of the Pacific Star.
Clasps: The Pacific Star was not awarded to recipients of the Burma Star, and subsequent entitlement to the Pacific Star was denoted by a PACIFIC clasp.
Note: Royal Navy and Merchant Navy personnel qualified for this medal for service restricted in an area restricted to the Bay of Bengal, and enclosed by a line running from the Southern most point of Sumatra, and continuing east to the western side of the Sundra Strait, including the Strait of Malacca. The six months qualifying period for the 1939-45 Star had to be earned, before service for this medal could be counted.
Naval General Service Medal 1915-62
This medal was instituted in 1915 to recognise service by Naval and Marine personnel in minor campaigns that did not earn a specific campaign medal.
This medal was replaced by the General Service Medal in 1962.
Clasps:
N. W. PERSIA 1920 For service in the Naval Mission in the Caspian Sea.
PALESTINE 1936-39 For service during the ‘Troubles’.
S. E. ASIA 1945-46 For operations in Java, Sumatra and French Indo China.
PALESTINE 1945-48 For service during the further ‘Troubles’.
MALAYA For service in Malaya and Singapore during the state of emergency.
CANAL ZONE For service in the Suez Canal between October 1951 and October 1954
CYPRUS For service in EOKA operations 1955-1959.
NEAR EAST For operations in the Suez Canal 1956.
General Service Medal 1962
The 1962 General Service Medal was introduced to combine the Army and RAF General Service medals with the naval General Service Medal.
Clasps:
BORNEO Awarded for service in Operations against rebels in Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei between the 24th December and the 11th August 1966 inclusive.
Eligible personnel include Royal Navy and Royal Marines as well as crews of RFA ships involved in these operations, who complete 30 days aggregate service afloat in the waters of Sabah, Sarawak or Brunei in support of Shore Operations
MALAY PENINSULAR This campaign was an extension of the conflict in Borneo, where British and Malaysian troops were operating against Indonesian Insurgents. The qualifying period was 30 days service in the Malaysian Peninsular – Singapore area, between the 17th August 1964 and the 11th August 1966.
NORTHERN IRELAND Instituted to personnel involved in varying operations in Northern Ireland. The general qualifying period was a minimum of 30 days service between the 14th August 1969 and the 31st July 2007. The 30 days service did not have to be composed of consecutive days, and if the period was cut short due to death or injury, then the completed days are counted as sufficient for the award of the clasp.
LEBANON For service in Lebanon and its surrounding territorial waters between the 7th February 1983 and the 9th March 1984
To receive this clasp personnel needed accumulated service of 30 days or more, not necessarily continuous, within the territory of Lebanon and its territorial waters, between the above dates, whilst on the posted or attached strengths of any regular Military, Naval or Air Force Unit or formation in the area, supporting the multinational force. This includes any RFA personnel serving in this campaign.
GULF For service between the 17th November 1986 and the 31st October 1988, and mine clearance operations in the Gulf up to the 28th February 1989.
KUWAIT For service in Kuwait between the 8th March and the 30th September 1991.
Eligible personnel listed for this clasp are the crew of RFA Sir Galahad.
N. IRAQ and TURKEY The qualification will be 30 days or more continuously, or three operational sorties in Northern Iraq west of 44 45 E and North of 36 00 N and Southern Turkey, including its territorial waters, East of 35 00 E and South of 38 00 N between the 6th April and the 17th July 1991.
Members of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in support of Operation Haven and of such organisations as specified, who served directly with the Armed Forces between the above specified dates and in the specified areas.
Korea Medal
Also known as the Queen’s Korea Medal to distinguish it from the United Nations Medal. This medal was awarded to British and Commonwealth forces for one days service in Korea, or twenty eight days offshore, between the 1st July 1950 and the 27th July 1953
Clasps: None
Note: A single bronze Oak Leaf is worn on the ribbon to denote a “Mention in Despatches”.
South Atlantic Medal
Awarded to British Military Personnel and Merchant Seafarers for service in the Falklands War of 1982.
To be awarded the medal with the additional rosette, the recipient would have been required to do one days service within 35 degrees and 60 degrees South latitude, or to do at least one operational sortie South of Ascension Island, between the 2nd April and the 14th June 1982.
The medal without the rosette was awarded for thirty days continuous service or accumulated service between 7 degrees and 60 degrees South latitude, between the 2nd April and the 14th June 1982 (completing no later than the 12th July 1982).
Clasps: None, rosette instead.
Gulf Medal
Was approved in 1992 for issue to British Forces who served in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia during Operation Granby (the liberation of Kuwait) in 1990-91.
The medal alone was issued to personnel for thirty days continuous service in the Middle East (in a defined area of Operations, including Cyprus), between the 2nd August 1990 and the 7th March 1991.
Clasps: 16th JAN to 28th FEB 1991 for those who took part in Operations to liberate Kuwait. Awarded for seven days continuous service between these dates in the designated theatre of Operations. This clasp signifies service during the actual war.
Note: A rosette is worn on the medal ribbon to denote the award of the clasp.
Operational Service Medal
for Sierra Leone Has been issued since 2000 by the MOD for service in any of the five operations in Sierra Leone, or the joint Operational Area which included Senegal, Gibraltar and offshore support ships (RFA).
The medal was awarded for either 14, 21, 30 or 45 days continuous service required between certain specified dates on either Operation Palliser, Basilica or Silkman. Also awarded to those deployed on Operation Maidenly or Operation Barras on specified dates ranging from 1999 to 2002.
Clasps: None issued, though a rosette is worn on the medal itself for Operational Service within Sierra Leone. A smaller rosette is worn when the medal ribbon alone is worn.
Operational Service medal for Democratic Republic of Congo This is a campaign medal that was awarded to British Military personnel who were serving with the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the associated European Union Force deployment since about 2000.
The medal with clasp is awarded for 25 days continuous service in the Ituri province between the 14th June and the 10th September 2003.
Clasp: DROC this clasp is awarded with every medal, a silver rosette denotes the clasp on the ribbon.
Iraq Medal is a campaign medal issued to members of the British Armed Forces who have served on or in support of Operation Telic.
The medal, which was authorised on the 23rd February 2004, is awarded in recognition of meeting the qualifying period of service within the defined Operational area.
The Operational area is split into two zones:
Zone 1 (Iraq and Kuwait), Zone 2 (elsewhere within the Gulf Region).
The medal with the clasp 19 March to 28 April 2000, was awarded to those who participated in combat operations in Kuwait; those who served before the invasion, or who have served in its aftermath are awarded the medal alone.
The medal without the clasp is awarded to;
1) Those based in zone 2 who performed 30 days continuous service between the 20th January and the 28th April 2003.
Clasps: None
Note: Service that is terminated by death, wounds or disability due to service, or the award of a military decoration (MID or higher), immediately qualified for the award of the medal, regardless of length of service.
UN, NATO and Foreign Medals
United Nations Korea Medal is an International Military Decoration which was established by the United Nations on the 12 December 1950. This was the first International Award ever created and recognised the multi-national defence force which participated in the Korean War.
The United Nations Service Medal is awarded to any military service member, of an allied force allied with South Korea, who participated in the defence of Korea from North Korean aggression, between the dates of the 27 June 1950 and the 27 July 1954.
This medal was issued automatically to those who received the UK Korea Medal.
Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal This medal is presented by the Government of Malaysia to British Veterans and others, who served in Operations in Malaya/Malaysia between September 1957 and August 1966 or for service in Singapore between September 1957 to July 1965.
RFA Veterans who wish to apply for this medal or seek more information on it should write in the first instance to:
Captain Rex Cooper, OBE, RFA.
All correspondence should be addressed to Captain Cooper through the current Chairman of the RFA Association.
Note: At the present time permission to wear this medal has not been formally given.
Badges and Emblems
Silver War Badge was authorised in September 1916. It was given to personnel who had been discharged ill or wounded whilst in Military Service in a theatre of war or at home. The badge was issued as a defence against the women of Britain, as up till then if a man was thought not to be in the Services, then they would give him a white feather to show he was a coward.
The badge was to be worn n the right breast whilst in civilian dress, it was forbidden to be worn on military uniform.
There were twenty nine categories for King’s Regulations for Discharge, in which someone could be awarded this badge. This badge is now extremely rare and is only available from specialist Medal Dealers.
Arctic Emblem Was first presented in October 2006 as a mark of the Nation’s gratitude for veterans of the Arctic Convoys of the Second World War.
This emblem was specifically commissioned to commemorate the service of Merchant Navy personnel and members of the Armed Forces in the icy waters of the Arctic Region between the 3rd September 1939 and the 8th May 1945.
An application form for this emblem can be found on the website of the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency.
UK Armed Forces Veterans Badge This badge is for all hose who have served in HM Armed Forces, including the RFA. It is not for veterans of Armed Forces of other countries and those who served alongside HM Armed Forces (e.g.: Canadian Navy or Australian Air Force).
This badge is a survivors badge and therefore is not issued posthumously. The only exception is for war widows and widowers who are in receipt of a war widows/widowers pension, paid by the SPVA.
All veterans of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and STO(N) are eligible for this badge, though members of the RFA still serving will not be able to apply as they will receive their badge when they leave the service.